The son of Henry Winder (d. 1733), farmer, by a daughter of Adam Bird of Penruddock, he was born at Hutton John, parish of Greystoke, Cumberland, on 15 May 1693.
The source of the Petteril is near Penruddock and Motherby, from where the young river runs northeast through Greystoke, Blencow and Newton Reigny, before passing under the M6 motorway, after which the river turns north, and the motorway roughly follows the course of the river towards Carlisle.